A region, a garden, a frame of mind…

There’s a Nip in the Air

It’s hard to believe September has come and (almost) gone, but the forecast, with nighttime lows dipping into the 40s by the weekend, tells the tale — summer is being nudged aside by autumn. Pansies, mums, and pumpkins are replacing warm-season blooms, and before long black cats, witches, and goblins will make their annual appearance.

Need a gourd or two?

Just down the street at Roots (An Urban Gardener’s Oasis!), Wesley has outdone previous fall displays with a truckload of gourds of every size and description. That would be a 1950 Chevy truck, thank you very much, offering a big dose of nostalgia along with its seasonal charm.

Just motor down to 2249 Augusta Street.

In the garden at home, there’s a bit of excitement too. The Hemiboea subcapitata (glossy false sinningia), given to me earlier this year my friend, Jean Lindsey, is in bloom.

Hemiboea subcapitata

Though the flowers are not terribly showy, any plant that blooms in shade, particularly in autumn, is worthy of celebration. Plus, the lustrous foliage is especially nice. Tony Avent of Plant Delights notes the Chinese perennial, a relative of African violet, is hardy to zone 6 and can spread into a 5-foot wide patch in just a few years.

For gardeners yearning for one more trip to the Lowcountry, Laura Lee Rose, President of the Southcoast Chapter of the South Carolina Native Plant Society, has asked me to share news about the upcoming Native Plant Symposium scheduled for October 31st to November 2nd on St. Helena Island.

Chloris–It was new to me a few months ago. My friend mentioned it was her new favorite plant, so of course I had to have some. There are other species, but the only one I see for sale is M. flaccida, which has dull green felted leaves–foliage looks much more like an African violet, but the flower is much the same as the glossy one.